“The ever-fervent zeal for the benefits of the state...”: about some facts of M.S. Vorontsov’s military and administrative biography on the pages of the Kavkaz newspaper

Introduction. The formation of the Caucus borderland of the Russian Empire in the 19th century is a complex and multifaceted process associated with the opposition of some local peoples to the imperial order. Founded in 1846 the Kavkaz newspaper, which has become an important element of regional periodical press, occupies a special place in this process. The publication served as a platform for covering the activities of military leaders and shaping public opinion in a difficult political environment. Among the many prominent figures, Governor M. S. Vorontsov, the initiator of the founding of the newspaper, deserves special attention. His activities as a military commander and administrator regularly became the focus of attention of journalists, which underlines the importance of his contribution to the life of the region.

Materials and methods. The research is based on the analysis of texts published in the regional newspaper Kavkaz, as well as on the study of private sources, including correspondence and memoirs of contemporaries. The appeal to the work of contemporaries and participants of the events described, the analysis of their interpretation of what was happening allowed us to apply the methods of intellectual history to assess the personality of M.S. Vorontsov and his perception by the public.

Analysis. When presenting the material in the publications of the Kavkaz newspaper, the main focus was on the heroism of ordinary participants in military operations, emphasized military camaraderie and highlighted the decisions of the command aimed at pacifying the region. At the same time, the personal merits of M.S. Vorontsov are mentioned with restraint, with an emphasis on the achievements of his subordinates, forming the image of a modest, but at the same time caring commander and competent leader, which is indicated by the achievements of subordinates.

Results. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that M.S. Vorontsov possessed unconditional military and administrative talents. He made a significant contribution to the pacification of the Caucasus, pursuing an effective policy of spreading the Russian order in the region. His work combined power, economic and socio-cultural methods of influencing the situation. The Kavkaz newspaper introduced the course pursued by the governor to the public and became an important tool for shaping his positive image. The readers were encouraged to believe that the results achieved were a common accomplishment, and M.S. Vorontsov did not contrast his personal achievements with those of his subordinates. 

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